MINNEAPOLIS — A winter storm boasting several inches of fresh snow, sub-zero windchills and fierce winds is now making its way across Minnesota, draping another layer of anxiety over travelers this holiday.
The Minnesota State Patrol reported that from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., troopers have responded to 202 crashes, 189 spinouts and at least one jackknifed semi. MSP said 16 of those crashes resulted in injuries, but none of them were fatal or serious.
Minnesota Department of Transportation spokesperson Anne Meyer said as of Wednesday afternoon, 800 plows were staffed across the state -- 200 of those in the Twin Cities metro -- working around the clock to clear the roads.
"They will work 12-hour shifts to keep plows on the roads 24 hours/day until roads are back in the clear – and with strong winds blowing snow back onto roadways and extreme cold temps, the clean-up process will take longer," Meyer said.
But drivers aren't the only travelers being impacted by this latest round of winter weather. Those hoping to get to their destinations by air ahead of the holiday weekend are also faced with potential delays and cancellations. As of 2:30 p.m., 15 cancellations and 30 delays were reported at MSP International Airport.
In order to get to your destination, travel experts recommend giving yourself enough time to get to the airport safely, checking in frequently on your flight status and/or inquiring about travel waivers with your airline should you need to change your plans.
The system in Minnesota is coinciding with a wider blast of winter, which has moved from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies, and is now hovering over the Midwest. Meteorologists predict the cold will spread as far south as Florida by Friday.
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